Photo: Eli Pearlman-Storch

Philadelphia Union

Hundreds and hundreds of Union fans were at Xfinity Live! on Tuesday night for the Meet the Team event and unveiling of PSP’s Q&A with Mike Walker, adidas North America’s Global Product Manager for MLS, about the design of the new kit.

Walker talks about the new kit in the video below.

The new kit, along with some related equally kick-ass merchandise like t-shits, hoodies, hats and a scarf, is now available for sale on the club website. My wallet was substantially lighter leaving the event last night then it was when I got there.

The team will play in the new kit in Saturday’s season opener at PPL Park.

In the latest edition of the Daily Doop, Kerith Gabriel reports that Brazilian defensive midfielder Eber Henrique Ferreira DeBessa is trialing with the club. The 20-year-old was recently on trial with Montreal Impact.

You will recall we linked to an article from ESPN last Friday in which new Chivas USA coach Jose Luis “Chelis” Sanchez Sola said he wanted the Farfan brothers. At ProSoccerTalk, Steve Davis has an update on whether such talk constitutes tampering. MLS director of communications Will Kuhns tells Davis the Union would have to file an official complaint before the league could take any action.

Part two of the Shin Guardian’s season preview is out and Union players receive some interesting mentions. Antoine Hoppenot is one contributor’s pick for the most unnecessarily physical or fouling player:

Steven Lenhart, a personal favorite, will get a lot of votes in this category, but Philadelphia’s Antoine Hoppenot takes the cake, that’s not to say he is not a joy to watch. Everyone will recall the head-butt that Montreal’s Nelson Rivas laid on the young French-born super-sub, but masked by that retaliation is the kind of pestering that is the stuff of legend.

Diminutive, Hoppenot plays twice his size, shows no deference to experience, and shies from no man. If he was the size of Eric Hassli, he would concede the most fouls in the league.

Freddy Adu is included in the most annoying player category. Adu is also TSG editor Matt Tomaszewicz’s pick for player you’d most like to see on another team: “Freddy Adu to Chivas USA. So crazy it just might work.”

At the 700 Level, Steve Moore answers some preseason questions.

I’ve never been a fantasy football guy myself but there’s information about the Union for the league’s Fantasy Soccer game here.

Local

Philly.com photographer Colin Kerrigan goes on vacation and sees a Barcelona match.

MLS

The 2013 roster rules have finally been published.

MLS commissioner Don Garber will be delivering his “March to Soccer” preseason address and press conference via YouTube tonight at 6pm.

Chris Wondolowski has a new contract with San Jose Earthquakes that makes him the second designated player in the team’s history.

Well you won’t have Torsten Frings to shout “HANDBALL!” at anymore, the former German international has announced his retirement.

Have no fear, sports fans, Thierry Henry isn’t thinking about retiring any time soon. The 35 year old still has two years remaining on his contract with New York.

Danny Califf, who has been dealing with a knee injury during the preseason, went the full 90 for Toronto last Saturday. Califf said he felt a little tired after the game but was otherwise fine.

Carlos Ruiz says he’s eager to teach the younger players at DC United some of his tricks of the trade.

Chivas USA have acquired Mexican center back Joaquín Velázquez and Peruvian left back Walter Vílchez.

At Sporting News, Brian Straus previews the Western Conference. The favorites? LA, Seattle, and San Jose. At Goal.com, Kyle McCarthy does the same and taps Seattle to win the conference.

At SI, Grant Wahl has part one of the results of his survey of 18 players about a variety of topics such as most over-rated player and least desirable stadium atmosphere. No Union connections in the results, whether positive or negative, so far.

At MLS Talk, Earl Reed looks at how the Designated Player rule is working out.

Carlos Llamosa played ten seasons in MLS and was on the USMNT at the 2002 World Cup. This story recounts how he narrowly avoided injury or death at the 1993 World Trade Center bombing thanks to a long lunch.

This Orlando Sentinel article from last week describes how backers of an MLS team in that city will be competing with other interests from the area’s tourism industry for state funding.

NWSL

US

The US defeated Canada 4–2 with two goals from Jose Villareal and a goal each from Luis Gil and Will Trapp in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U-20 championship on Tuesday, thus ensuring themselves a spot at June’s U-20 World Cup in Turkey. The US next plays Cuba in the semifinals on Friday (6pm, FSC).

More on the win from Soccer America, SBI, and Goal.com plus this post-game quote sheet.

Stuart Holden made his first appearance in league play in nearly two years when he came on in the 24th minute in Bolton’s 1-0 win over Peterborough on Tuesday.

ASN has ten MLS players who might matter for the US in the 2014 World Cup. Let’s make sure we qualify first, eh?

At Soccer America, Paul Gardner says the weirdness is still evident when it comes to Jurgen Klinsmann’s training methods.

If you like your national team players posing like porn stars, then this collection of photos of members of the 2002 US World Cup team will be right up your alley.

Elsewhere

Slate has the fascinating story of Tom Byer, the American who may be singlehandedly responsible for turning Japan into a major soccer power.

The AP reports on Borussia Dortmund’s efforts to combat a disturbing rise of right-wing neo-Nazi extremism among its fans. I f’ing hate Nazis.

US Soccer Players considers a proposal to create a league comprised of teams from Russia and surrounding post-Soviet states to be called the United Football League.

ESPN reports on the efforts at the Libyan Football Federation to shake off the legacy of Muammar Gaddafi.

Mario Balotelli has ordered a life-sized statue of himself to display at his home in Brescia.